Worship Sunday

January 8

"The Light of the World"

Preacher: Rev. Steve Stultz Costello

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23, John 8:12-20

In-Person: 8:30 Traditional, 10:30 Modern

Livestream Link for 8:30am 

Livestream Link for 10:30am 

Watch via Facebook Live

Worship Resources:

• Traditional Worship Bulletin
• Modern Worship Bulletin
• Star Template
• Children's Interactive Worship Bulletin
• Worship Engagement and Devotion
• Sunday School Home Activities
• Prayer List: Jan. 5
• Digital Labyrinth
• Tithes & Offerings

Sunday School Opportunities

• Sunday School activities for all ages 9:30am-10:30am, Gathering Area and Chapel. Stay as long as you like.
• Epiphany Art in the Gathering Area and Chapel
• Nursery Care & Preschool Sunday School (up to age 5), during worship in Room 18.
• Youth Sunday School for grades 6-12, 9:45am in the Youth Room
• Adult Sunday School opportunities are listed on the church calendar/website.

Worship at Crystal Park UMC:

Traditional Worship at 11 a.m. | 2219 Mahoning Rd NE, Canton, 44705

Preacher: Rev. Paul White

Sermon: Come on In, The Water is Fine

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17 

Wednesday Night Dinner Worship

January 11 Epiphany Reflection

An evening of fun, food, faith and fellowship 5:45-6:30pm!

Leave the cooking to us and enjoy a great meal and mid-week worship! We strive to serve healthy adult and kid friendly, gluten-free, low carb, and peanut/tree nut free options each week. A great time to connect with others. 

Groups and activities for adults, youth and kids follow worship. Childcare where little ones learn about God is available during adult groups.

Chalking the Door Epiphany Blessing

Spiritual Formation Ministry Team invites you to try this Epiphany tradition in your home. On the day of Epiphany, some church traditions use chalk on door frames to bless their homes and churches as a way of remembering when the wise ones visited Jesus’ home. The chalking is written as the current calendar year split in half by the letters C+M+B written in between. The letters stand for “Christus mansionem benedicat,” which is Latin for, “May Christ bless this home.” For example, it will look like this for 2023: 20 + C + M + B + 23

Begin by using this chalk blessing together, or create your own! O God of the universe, Bless this chalk made from the earth, A favored tool we use to play, learn, and create.

Write 20 + C + M + B + 23 in chalk on a piece of black paper or on your door frame paper as you read this blessing aloud. Peace be to this space and all who live, play, and visit here. May all who come and go from this space, Find welcome, kindness, gentleness, and love, Because you, God, live here with us.

Prayer - O God who painted the stars in the sky, your light shines brightly all around us. May we, like the wise ones, follow the warmth of your world changing love as it leads us into humble and unexpected places. Amen.

Adapted from Illustrated Ministry, LLC. illustratedministry.com

NEW Church Office Hours

Effective January 1, 2023

8:30am-4:30pm Monday- Thursday

Closed Friday

The church building will still be open but Staff will work remotely and the office will be closed. 

Visioning Report and Recommendation

The Visioning Team’s Report and Recommendation to the Church Board for the January 10 meeting at 6:30 is now available for all to review. View it electronically here, or hard copies are available at the church in the Gathering Area. The report does not include descriptions of any of the goals. The descriptions are provided in the October 15 Visioning Summit Booklet that has been available since October. It is helpful to have a copy of the Visioning Summit Booklet with you when reading the Visioning Report and Recommendation. 

All are welcome to attend the January 10, 2023 Board meeting at 6:30 in-person or via Zoom. Everyone present is welcome to participate in the conversation. However, only Board members are permitted to vote.

As we begin this new year, let us be prayerful and discerning about the vision that God has for Faith United.

Adult Connect Groups

Get connected at Faith United, Winter groups are now forming! Contact Kathy Schmucker for information on starting, or participating in an adult group.

• The Book of Acts, Monday Night Bible Study, 6:30pm, Ron Luikart, Parlor/Zoom
• Jesus Revealed, Tuesday Women's Group, 6:30pm Zoom, Sue Bell and Sue Schillings
• Second Wind, Chair Yoga with Michael Curtis, 1:00pm, Jan 10, Joann Fox, Tom & Betsy Douce
• The Lord's Prayer, Wednesday Women's Group, 9am, Linda Reynolds
• Sewing for Missions, 6:30pm, January 18, Coordinator: Sue Bell
• After Dinner Table Talk, Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Room 5
• Jesus Revealed, Wednesdays at 6:30pm, Conference Room and Zoom, Facilitator: Pastor Steve (330-224-7337). Zoom Link, Meeting ID: 837 2642 4837 Passcode: 160104 January 11 (chapter 3 – I Am The Good Shepherd).
• Faith 101, Wednesdays, 6:30pm, starts January 18
• Prayer Shawl Ministry, Thursdays, 1:00pm, Coordinator: Mike Flechtner, Parlor
• Theology for Our Times, Fridays, 1:00pm, Coordinator: Tom Strauch, Zoom 
• Resilient, Men's Life Study, 8am, Jan 7 & 21, Beyesly's Restaurant, Jim Skinner
• Common Ground - Mom's Group, 9:45-10:25am, Sundays, Rebekah Heskett and Bethany Sedziol, Nursery
• The End of Me: Where Real-Life in the Upside-Down Ways of Jesus Begins, Sundays, 9:45-10:45am starts January 29, Bob Snyder, Conference Room/Zoom
• From Generation to Generation Christmas & Epiphany Art, Sundays 9:30-10:30am, Wednesdays 6:30-7:30pm through January 11. Create ornaments and symbols based on each week's Christmas & Epiphany theme.
• Through the Year with John Wesley - Text group with Pastor Steve and Pastor Jake
• Bible Year Monthly Discussion and Reflection, 6:30pm, January 8, Zoom

Join Sewing for Missions for a Sewing Workshop on Saturday January 7th, 2023 from 9:00 am to 2:00pm in Robinson Hall. We are concentrating on making hats and scarves to be distributed at Faith Kitchen Crystal Park on January 28th. We have fleece fabric so bring your sewing machine and a covered dish to share for lunch.  

Click here or scan for more details about all the group opportunities and programs happening at Faith United. 

Explore some great resources for your spiritual journey!

Amplify Media is a video library with 1,000's of videos for adults, youth and kids to view from your phone, tablet, computer, or tv. These resources can be used for individual or group studies, and has a special section just for kids! Follow these instructions to access your free account. Contact Kathy Schmucker, Spiritual Formation Director.

Faith and Environment Weekly

The average U.S. household wastes nearly a third of the food it buys. Nearly one million pounds of food is dumped every day in central Ohio's landfill. One community is nudging its residents to change their habits.

Riley learned at school in Columbus about the impact of food waste on the planet: When food rots in landfills, it generates methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide, and composting releases much less methane than food dumped in landfills.

Riley began asking for smaller portions, knowing she could always go back for more. Her father started packing leftovers for lunch. Her family began composting more rigorously. “Don’t waste food” may sound old-fashioned, but to those concerned about the environment, it’s a cause that​ deserves ​our attention. In the United States, food waste is responsible for twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as commercial aviation.

Many states and cities have regulations to keep food out of landfills; most require residents and businesses to compost. In the Columbus area nearly a million pounds of food is thrown out every day, making it the single biggest item entering the landfill. The same is true nationwide. Households account for 39 percent of food waste in the United States, more than restaurants, grocery stores, or farms. One-third of the food in this country goes unsold or uneaten.

The hard costs: The average family in central Ohio spends $1,500 each year on food they don’t eat, and 22 million gallons of gas are used annually to transport food that’s thrown away.

Tips: Shop with a list, create meal plans, freeze leftovers.

Kids learn good habits at school: At school, kids select the right trash cans: Landfill, Recycling, and Compost, and also a “Share” table.

The Takeaway – The kids know reducing food waste is “just what we’re supposed to do. You take eggshells and whatever and throw them in a bin. It shouldn’t have to be a big deal.”

More Information

The views of this, and other F&E articles, do not necessarily reflect the views of the congregation, nor every member of the F&E group. Intent & Responsibility Statement. Article Edited by Tom Strauch on behalf of the Faith & Environment Ministry Group. Text your comments to Tom Strauch at 330 283-9883

The January issue of the Upper Room Devotional and the Daily Bread are available for pick up on the Gathering Area Information Display Board.

Sunday School activities are in the Gathering Area and Chapel weekly between worship services.

Celebrate Wonder home activities are available in the weekly worship emails for Nursery-5th Grade. Pick 1-2 activities to do and learn and wonder about God together. View each week's Bible story and music videos on Amplify Media which has special videos for kids! Follow these steps to register or contact Kathy Schmucker. 

Wednesday Wonder Kids

Grades K-5 gather from 6:30-7:30pm following dinner and worship to learn about faith through games, Bible stories, activities, service and mission projects and worship experiences! Contacts: Kathy Schmucker, Bethany Sedziol, Rebekah Heskett. Little Wonders, up to age 5, learn about God in a loving, caring environment. Contacts: Kathy Schmucker, Kristin Krach.

Sing-along choir for preschool and elementary students occurs Wednesdays at 5:00pm. Contact Sandy Wallace pianoplayer@sandywallace.us for information. 

Faith United welcomes children of all ages in worship. Our worship experience is enriched as we gather together to experience and praise God.

• Worship Kits and worship manipulatives are available to guide children as they pray and learn about God
• Family Prayer Ground at the front of the sanctuary for families to have a comfortable, close-up view of worship.
• Rocking chairs in the Narthex and Family Prayer Ground.
• Nursery care/Preschool Sunday School (birth-age 5) during worship (room 18)

2022-2023 Children/Youth Emergency and Permission Form.

For the safety of our children and youth, our Safe Sanctuary Policy asks that parents/guardians complete an emergency form for children (birth through high school graduation) participating in church activities each year. Designate the activities your child has permission to participate in so you only need to complete one form for the year.

2022-2023 Children/Youth Emergency and Permission Form.

For the safety of our children and youth, our Safe Sanctuary Policy asks that parents/guardians complete an emergency form for children (birth through high school graduation) participating in church activities each year. Designate the activities your child has permission to participate in so you only need to complete one form for the year. 

Contact Matt Kluchar for other Middle/High School youth events and details.

Start off the New Year with a book! Explore some of the great resources available in our library!

The Books and Resources available in Faith United’s Library to nurture your spiritual journey! You can connect to us through an app on your phone or through our church website. Please email library@faithumchurch.org if you need help with that.

• Visit the Library Webpage -Click the link to open the online system.
• Or Download the app, Librista, on your mobile device.
• Email the library if you need help

Type a topic in the search bar to see available resources. 

Faith United is searching for Part-Time Child Care Providers - flexible hours on an as- needed basis. For more information and an application email kschmucker@faithumchurch.org 

or visit our website.

Saturday, January 7

8am-9am Resilient Men's Life Study (Beyesly's)

9am-2pm Sewing for Missions (Robinson Hall)

January 8-15 Epiphany Star Words (Chapel)

Sunday, January 8

8:30am-9:30am Traditional Worship - Live Stream (Sanctuary)

8:30am-9:30am Nursery Care & Preschool Sunday School (Room 18)

9:30am-10:30am Epiphany Art (Gathering Area)

9:30am-10:30am Sunday School Activities (Gathering Area & Chapel)

9:45am-10:25am Common Ground Mom's Group (Nursery Room 18)

9:45am-10:30am Youth Sunday School (Youth Room)

10:30am-11:30am Modern Worship - Live Stream (Sanctuary)

10:30am-11:30am Nursery Care & Preschool Sunday School (Room 18)

11:30am-12:30pm Youth Planning Meeting (Robinson Hall)

12pm-2pm Visioning Team (Conference Room)

6:30pm-7:30pm Bible Year Discussion & Reflection (Zoom)

Monday, January 9

2:30pm-3:30pm Men's Emmaus Accountability Group (Zoom)

6:30pm-8pm Book of Acts Study (Parlor/Zoom)

Tuesday, January 10

9am-11am Faith Friends Library Time (Robinson Hall)

9:30am-11am Celebration Bells (Sanctuary)

1pm-3pm Second Wind (Robinson Hall)

2:30pm-3:30pm Women's Emmaus Accountability (Zoom)

6:30pm-8pm Women's Study "Jesus Revealed" (Zoom)

6:30pm-8:30pm Church Board/Ministry Council (Robinson Hall/Zoom)

Wednesday, January 11

9am-11am Women's Study "Lord's Prayer" (Parlor/Zoom)

5pm-5:45pm Sing Along Kids Choir (Room 8)

5:45pm-6:30pm Wednesday Dinner Worship (Robinson Hall) 

6:30pm-7:30pm Wednesday Night Youth (Youth Room)

6:30pm-7:30pm Little Wonders Child Care (Nursery)

6:30pm-7:30pm Wonder Kids (Chapel/Room 6)

6:30pm-7:30pm After Dinner Table Talk (Room 5)

6:30pm-7:30pm "Jesus Revealed" (Conference Room/Zoom)

7:30pm-8:30pm Chancel Choir (Sanctuary) 

Thursday, January 12

1pm-2:30pm Prayer Shawl Ministry (Parlor)

6:15pm-815pm Staff Epiphany Dinner

6:30pm-7:30pm Faith & Environment (Conference Room)

6:30pm-8pm Stephen Ministry Team (Parlor)

Friday, January 13

1pm-2pm Theology for Our Times (Zoom)

Calendar Snapshot - View more at myfaithunited.org/calendar